A 76-YEAR-old cancer patient from the North-East is competing in his 34th London Marathon this weekend.

David Fereday, from Ryton, Gateshead, is one of just 15 people to have successfully completed every London Marathon, all 33 of them, since the race began in 1981.

He was recently diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, but is more determined than ever to finish this Sunday and retain his membership of ‘The Ever-Present Club’.

Mr Fereday said: “I’m feeling pretty good all things considered. I have another operation coming up, but fortunately the marathon fell at the right time.

“I’ve completed 33 London Marathons and I thought my cancer diagnosis would finish this streak.”

Despite an operation just five weeks ago, the chartered engineer, who directs his family engineering business, is confident he will complete another 26 miles run and is raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

It is his way of saying thank you for the care he is receiving at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

Mr Fereday said: “I’m lucky to be receiving treatment at the Freeman Hospital and the level of care gives me tremendous confidence in the NHS, which so often suffers from criticism.

“The professionalism, hard work and happy demeanour of everyone I’ve encountered, from consultant to cleaning staff, is an inspiration to me."

Mr Fereday, originally from north London, is married to Alison and has three children.

His quickest marathon time was two hours, 44 minutes, 29 years ago, and this year he’s aiming for a time around five hours and 40 minutes.

Mr Fereday’s love affair with distance running began as a child watching, and re-watching, the 1948 Olympic Marathon at his local cinema.

He said: “I think I was born a runner. Since I toddled, I seemed to run, to the shops, through the woods, round and round the school playground, I never walked anywhere."

To sponsor David, please visit www.justgiving.com/thesirbobbyrobsonfoundation.